Coin-controlled apparatus



pflj, 1931; .1. N. PRYOR 1,800,154

COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. l, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l al z April 7, 1931. J. N. PRYOR COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. l, 1928 .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ji N. PRYOR COIN CONTROLLED APPARATUS April 7, 1931.

Original Filed Aug. l, 1928 -50- ani annular.` depression Patented Apr. 7, 1931 Unirse. STATES PATENT oFFicE JAMES vN PRYOR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T WAY VEND CORPORATION, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION 0F MARYLAND COIN-CONTROLLED .APPARATUS Application filed August 1, 1928, Serial No. 296,688. Renewed September 2, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in coin `controlled mechanism for vending machines. The invention relates more particularlyI to improvements in the coin guide for V conducting coins from theentrance slot into the. coinfslide, whereby the coinguide is selt-clearing;` to improvements in the arrangement ofa magnet for arresting magnetizableslugs, whereby such slugs are pre 10 vented from passing tothe coin slide and are discharged from the guide; to improvements in the slot in the coin slide, whereby thincoins will be automatically discharged fronrthe slot; to improvements in the connector between the coin slideand the article delivery slide; to improvements in means for making a predetermined division ofthe total number of coins entering the machine,

andto other features, the details of which will `be hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing, Figil is a rightside elevation of the coincontrolled mechanism;

Fig. 2is atop plan view of the same; .25 ,Fig.` 3 is a. lett side elevation of the same; Figa is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.l 3; Y

Fig.` 5 is a right side elevation of the coin chute, showing its movable side pushedinwardly frein normal position, the front plate being shown in section;

Fig.` 6 is a similar view, showing the left side, of the coin chute Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a section through theiront plate and coin slide onllthe line 8 8- of Fig. 7 and',

Fig-9 is a section the same as in Fig. 4,

"4 but showing the coin slide pushed rearwardlya shortdistance from its normal position. 'Referring'to the drawing, @represents a front plate, adapted to be attached to a suitable casing containing articles to be sold,

this'` plate being provided in its upper part with a depression 1, inthe `bottom of which is a verticalcoin slot 2, (Figs. 1 and 2)`. Below the coin .slot,vthe plate is provided Withan outwardlyextendingboss 3, having 4', and "inthe center of the boss is an opening 5 to receive a push rod 6. Four parallel rods 7, 8, 9 and 10 connect their-ont plate with a back plate b, the: plates and rods constituting the frame upon which the various parts of the mechanism are carried.

An article delivery slide c extends through a horizontal slot in the back plate and the forward end of this slide has a downwardly turned 'flange 11, (Fig. 5) provided with an opening 12, through which a horizontal rod 13, secured to the front plate, extends. A spring 13 on this rod bears against the flange on the slide and constant ly presses the slide forwardly, toward the front plate. This article delivery slide has an upwardly projecting stud 14, adapted to be engaged by a connecting lever d, which is mounted upon the coin slide e.

The coin slide e is made oi shectnietal, bent into U-itorm, comprising a top 15 and downwardly extending ends 16-17, these end pieces having guide openings through which the guide rods 7 and 8 entend. The push rod 6 is connected to the forward end piece 16, and a sheet metal foot 18, secured to the latter end piece, extends downwardly therefrom and has grooved guideways 18 and 18? which lit around the edges of the article delivery slide c and form a sliding connection between the latter slide and the coin slide.

A relatively long spring 19 is interposed between the stationary back plate b of the frame and the front plate 16 ot' the coin slide, this spring, as shown, being coiled about an extension of the push rod 6 and extending into a tubular housing 20, which is secured to the `plate l). This spring constantly presses the coin slide toward the front plate a and toward an upwardly pro jecting stop `21 on the i'orward end of the delivery slide.

In the top plate of the coin slide is a coin slot 22, slightly wider than the thickness of the coin which is employed to operate the machine, and one end wall 22 of the slot is inclined with respect to the plane of the slot, so that the slot is slightly longer at one side than at` the other. As shown,

'inf

the wall 222L is part of a lever 23 which is pivoted to a bracket 24 on the top plate of the coin slide. A spring 25 normally holds the lever so that this-inclinedV part 22a closes the end of the slot. An arm 232L on Ythe lever projects at one side of the coin slide and is adapted to engage a stop'26, fixed to the back plate l), when the slide approaches the inner limit of its movement, and this stop causes the lever to rochl and thereby open the 'end of the coin slot-to allow the coin to drop through the slot on to a downwardly inclined plate 27, which guides it laterally out of the mechanism and into a hopper f. n

The connector d is pivcted at 28 to the rear side of the coin slide, and one of its arms extends over the top of the slide and has a feelingvfinger 29'L which is movable transversely of the slot, at its central portion. The other arm 29b of the connector has a foot 29c which is movable transversely of the delivery slideV c. into and out line with the stop ll thereon. A spring 3 0, which bears against the arm 29 of the connector, constantly tends to press the finger 29a into line with the coin slot 22 and the foot 29c out of line with the stop 14. In the normal positions of the slides, a Vfixed cam plate g holds the connector in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In this position, a coin of the proper size to operate the machine, inserted through the entrance slot 2 and passing through a coin chute can vpass the finger of the connector and en'er the slot 22 1n the coin slide.

f the coin or check is considerably thinner than the proper coin, it will drop out through trie longer side of the slot; but if it is of normal thiclzness and diameter, it will remain in the slot. Upon moving the coin slide rearwardly a short distance, the depending arm of the connector will ride on to the inclined wall 3l of the cam plate g'until the finger engages the side of the coin, when the coin will stop the lswinging movement of the connector before the foot on its 'lower end vrides out of line with the stop 14,011 the 1livery slide to move backward eject one of the articles to be vended. Near the limit of the inward'movement of the coin slide, the depending arm ofthe connector will engage the cam surface 32 of thevcam' plate and ride on to the part 33, thus causing the connector to move away from the side of the coin, and aslight further movement of the coinv slide will cause the lever 23a to engage the stopl 26 land roel( this'lever toopen the end of the coin slot and release the coin.

. If a washer should lenter the coin slot in the coinvslide, it will be evident that the feeling linger' .of the connector f will pass `through the hole in the washer when the depending arm of the connector passes Von to the cam surface 31. As the cam surfaces 3l and 32 form a relatively deep notch in the cani bar g, the foot of the connector-.will move out of the path ofthe stop 14 as the coin slide moves rearwardly, and hence the delivery slide will notbe operated by the coin slide and "he washer will be retained on the finger until the connector is about to pass from the cam surface 32 on to the cam surface 33, when the finger will be withdrawn from the washer and the latter will then be releasedvfrom the coin slot by the engagement of the lever 23 with the stop 26. rlhus, the mechanism provides for detecting washerswith the connector and for stripping them from the connector, and for preventing the operation of the delivery slide by the use of washers.

The coin chute or guide 7L is composed of two similar side walls 34C and 35, the former attached to the stationary front plate and the latter attached, by a foot-piece 35a, to the top of the coin slide. A flange 351 on the side 35 projects over the rear edge of the side 34 and'forms the back wall of the guide. rlhe rear edges of the side walls are partly semi-circular in outline, and the flange 35b extends around this semi-circular part, terminating at a suliicient distance above the coin slide to permit coins to pass out of the guide. A flange 35, at the bottom of the side 35, projects under the. side 34, and-is inclined toward' the coin receiving slot 22 in the coin slide. This flange forms a bottom for the guide and directs coins toward the slot. The side plate 3a of the coin guide is attached at its forward edge to a cross-piece 35 whichl is secured to the inner side of the front plate a, above the entrance slot 2. It is also attached to a shelf 37, the latter having a lateral extension 37a which is secured to the front plate a. vrThe shelf 37 fits into a notch Vin the side wall 34 of the coin guide and is soldered or-brazed to said wall. This shelf-is wedge-shaped and is adapted to fit into a correspondingly shaped notch 35d in the side wall 35. `When the coin slide is in its normal position, as shown in Figs. l and 2, the shelf, which is immediately below the coin entrance slot, forms a baffle in the coin guide, so that a coin passing from the entrance slot 2 to the coin receiving slot in the coin slide must take a tortuous course through the coin guide, and hence it is impractical to sh a coin out of the coin slide by inserting a wire, for instance, through the entrance slot.

When a coin of the proper size to operate the machine is inserted through the entrance slot into the coin guide, it will drop on to the shelf 37 and from thence pass to the flange 35C, andfthence to the slot in the coin slide. lf paper orany substance is inserted into the coin guide which will not pass .i normal pieces through, when the slide is pressed rearwardly the side wall 35 of the coin slide will move rearw rdly with the slide, and the paper` or other substance obstructing the guide will fall down between the front plate and the coin slide. Thus, the coin guide is self-clearing when foreign substances are inserted which would obstruct the passageway through the guide. When the coin slide is released it returns to normal position, carrying the side wall 35 into position parallel with the side wall 34.

In cider te det-ect iron slugs which may be inserted in the machine, a permanent magnet la is provided, and the poles of this magnet normally extend through openings 38 in the side wall 34 of the coin chute. This magnet is mounted upon one end of a lever 39, which is pivoted at its other end upon a stud 40, secured to the front plate. The lever 39 is thus adapted to swing' laterally with respect to the plane of the coin chute. A spring 4l constantly presses the tree end of the lever toward the coin chute and the poles of the magnet are thus held within the openings 38 so that an iron slug passing through the coin chute will be arrested by the magnet when it comes opposite its pole pieces. A cam 42 on the lever 39 normally projects into the path of movement of the forward end-pieces 16 of the coin slide. Then the coin slide is pushed rearwardly, this end piece presses against the cam 42 and rocks the lever 39 laterally, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, so as to withdraw the pole pieces of the magnet from the openings 38and thus, if a slug has been arrested by the magnet, it will be stripped from the pole pieces of the magnet and will drop downward between the coin slide and the front plate a, the coin slide at this time being some distance inward from its normal position so that the slug cannot enter the slot in the slide. Upon the return of the slide to its position, the spring 4l will rock the 39 toward the coin chute and the pole of the magnet will again enter the openings 38 in the coin chute; y

ien the mechanism isloperated by a proper coin and an article `has been delivered, the slot in the coin slide is opened, in the manner heretofore described, by engagement of the lever 23 with the stop 26, and the coin drops out of the slot 22.

lever plate 27 into the hopper f. It is desirable to malte a division of the coins which pass through the machine, so that a certain proportion of the coins will flow into one receptacle and the remainder into another receptacle. This is in order that the owner of the machine who supplies the vended goods may have his proportionate amount of the proceeds delivered into a receptacle, and the concessionaire may have his proportion of p'awl being adapted lhe Acoin passes from the slot down the inclined thelproceeds delivered into a separate receptacle. For this purpose, two chutes and 44 aire connected to the lower end of the l1`op per and a valve 45 is provided at the junc tion of these chutes, for directing the coins into one chute or the other. The valve 45 normally closes the upper end of the chute 4, which leads to the receptacle (not shown) forthe coins which go to the concessionaire. Thisvalve is secured to a `crank 46, and the arm` 46W of the crank is `pivotally connected to a rod 47 which extends upwardly adjacent the guide rod 9 o'lzthe coin controlled mech- The rod 47 has a curvedend 47d whichi extends` partly around the axis of a stud `48, upon which is mounted a ratchet wheel49, the stud being secured to the guide bar9. A trippingpin 50, projecting from the ratchet wheel, engages the eurvedpart of the rod `47 andis adaptedto liit the rod and tlierebycause the valve 45 to swing into position to close the chute 43 `and direct a coin into thewchute 44, once in each revolu-1 tion of the ratchet wheel. A gravity-oper ated pawl l, pivoted to the forward end lol" the delivery slide c, projects laterally from theslide into line with the teeth of the ratchet wheel, `and hence ea zh time the delivery slide" actuated to e'ectl a vendable article, `the ratchet wheel is `turned the dis-` tance oi' one tooth. It the concessionaires proportion of the `receiptsis tol be the ratchet wheel will have five teeth, as `shown in the drawing, and as the ratchet wheel. is turned, the tripping pin will rocle the valve `once1for every live articles sold, and hence one coin out oflve will pass through the chute 44- and the other coins, four inl number, i will pass through the chute 43.

The article delivery slidefis provided with a shortlrack` 52,1adapted to engage a pawl 53 while the slideis moving rearwardly, this to prevent the slide from lmoving 'forward until it has completed its* full rearward movement andejected a package. `Thesepawl` and ratchet devices are in common `use and form no `part ofthe present invention.` In order to prevent the insertion of a coin in the machine while `the mechanism is being operated by a `previously inserted coin, l provide a shutter 54, in the form of alever, which is pivotally mounted uponthe guide rod 7. This lever extends upwardly from the guide rod in contact with therear oi the frontplate e andits upper end is guided by the cross-bar 36, the major portion oi whichis spaced from the front plate to provide a `gui de slot 36a. The shutter has a horizontal arm 55, having a cam surface adapted to be engaged by the coin slide in the forward position of the latter, and the slide, in moving forward, engages this arm and rocks the shutter away from the coin slot 2. A spring 56, bearing on the arm 55, constantly tends to move the v being xed shutter into position to close the slot. When the coin slide is moved rearwardly a slight distance, the shutter is moved 'by the spring to close the slot.V 1 n It is* believed that the operation of the apparatus will be clear from the above, without further description.

What I claim is v l. In a coin controlled mechanism, a front plate having anfentrance slot for coins, a slide having a coin receiving slot, and a coin guidev for conducting coins `from the former to the latter slot, one side wall of they guide to the frontplate and the opposite sidewall being fixed to the slide.

2. In a coin controlled mechanism, a front plate having ran entrance slot for coins, a slide having a coin receiving slot, a coin guide for conducting coins from the former to the latter slot, one side wall of the guide being iXed to the front plate and the opposite side' wall being movable with the slide, said latter wall having a notch in its forward edge, and a stationary shelf below the entrance slot, adapted to fit in said notch.

'3. In a coin controlled mechanism, a coin slide having a coin slot, an article delivery slide having a stop, a stationary cam bar, a lever centrally kpivoted to the slide and having one arm movable transversely of the coin slot and the other arm movable into and out of line withsaid stop, and a spring pressing said lever against the cam bar, said cam bar having a part adapted to hold the lever out of line with the slot and line with said stop, in the normal position of the slide, and having another part adapted to permit the lever to rock rst into line with the slot and out of line with the stop and then out of line with the slot and into line with the stop, when the slide is pushed rearwardly.

4:. In a coin controlled mechanism, a front platehaving an entrance slot for coins, a Y

slide having a coin slot, a coinguide extending between said slots, one side of the coin guide being fixed to the front plate and the other being fixed to the slide, a magnet support movable toward and from the fixed side of the coin guide, a magnet on the support having pole pieces projecting through said fixed side of the guide, a spring pressing said support toward the guide, and means for forcing said support away from the guide wheny the slide is pushed rearwardly.v Y

In testimony whereof I 'afiixlmy signature.

' J AMES N. PRYOR.' 

